Microsoft’s Kinect Round-up

Microsoft made a big show of Kinect at this year’s E3. Games like Mass Effect 3 show that hardcore games can use the device with voice control, and Microsoft has gone on the record saying that future first-party games will incorporate Kinect in some way, shape or form. Kinect is here to stay, whether you like it or not.

For now, Microsoft was keen to show off some of their new pieces of Kinect software. Some, like Kinect Fun Labs, are currently available on XBLA for download. Others, like Kinect Star Wars, are on their way. We blasted through a few of these, so check out our impressions below.

Dance Central 2: The sequel to Harmonix’ hit dancing game, Dance Central 2 is laying a foundation for upcoming dance titles, like the Kinect version of Just Dance 3. However, Harmonix doesn’t seem to be resting on their laurels, having made some improvements to the overall game experience.

First, the game has undergone some balancing and tuning. Hand motions to select songs and work through the UI have seen finesse and no longer need exaggerated waves and swipes. Dance recognition is much better now, and the hundreds of new moves should keep things fresh. Over forty new songs are available, and all of the previous songs from the first game and DLC can be ported over with a cheap download key.

The biggest new addition is concurrent multiplayer. Songs can now engage two players at once, and co-op and solo leaderboards have been created. Live multiplayer with a friend is a lot of fun, but smacking your buddy in the head is a constant worry. Dance Central 2 will be out later this year, and with songs from Usher, La Roux, and more, gamers will have plenty of music choices.

Kinect Star Wars: Coming later this year, Kinect Star Wars is being developed internally by Terminal Reality with Lucas Arts, and it looks like it’s designed to get action fans into the game. Taking place in the middle of Episode 2 and 3, players jump into the role of a Jedi as they fight their way through droids and Sith.

The demo shown to me was the one Microsoft had at their press conference; however, that conference did not indicate that the game is playable cooperatively. Two players can be Jedis and hack themselves silly.

Actual controls are … interesting. Yoda himself actually trains players the controls. Players twist their upper bodies to orient themselves in the areas of the game. All of the Force powers are tied to the left hand, so Force push and sweep are relatively easy to perform. Force lifts require both hands to lift objects up, and all lightsaber stuff is tied to the right hand. Dashes just take a step forward, and flips require a short hop. It’s simple, but so is the game, so this one is more for the kids.

Other areas of the game not shown include speeder bike races and space combat. That sounds fine, if a little typical for a Kinect game, but there were some major Star Wars fans who dug it.

Kinect: Disneyland Adventures: Designed with families and kids in mind and developed by the team behind Kinectimals, Kinect Disneyland Adventures is a mostly true-to-life recreation of the famed park in Anaheim, California. All 85 acres are here. Players fill the shoes of a customizable little kid, who can run around unsupervised through all of the familiar regions of the park. These kids can interact with famous Disney characters–hugging, posing for pictures, and even kissing them–and receive challenges to find items and complete tasks in the park. Kids can also use a magic wand to interact with the world, such as animating street lamps. There’s a growler device, too–a megahorn that will awaken any sleeping creatures. It’s actually pretty neat, and for kids who watch the same movies every week, the game offers the same amount of repetition to keep them happy.

Now twelve of the biggest attractions at Disneyland will be recreated in mini-games that don’t quite follow the trajectory of the ride itself. They tend to be linear flights or sword fights, and they are divided into chapters. Initially, I was shown the Peter Pan ride, and we’ve seen ones based upon Thunder Mountain, for example. I asked about licensed rides, like Indiana Jones and Star Tours, but got no comment on those just yet. Additionally, general rides like the carousel have not been commented on.

This should be a fun little game for kids of all ages, and for fans of Disneyland and those far from California, this should bring the happiest place on earth to you.